Gwendoline Monica HARPER (later SWEETING) (1905-1967)

Gwendoline Monica Harper (1905-1967), known as Monica, was the great-niece of Eugénie Sladden, being the daughter of her niece, Lilian Harper (née Butler).

Monica was born on 5^th February 1905, the elder of two children of Lilian Mary and Montague John Strachey Harper.  She grew up at Merlwood, Oatlands Park, Weybridge.

A letter written by her great-aunt, Polly Robinson, on 7^th May 1914, reveals that Monica’s parents let out their house for 16 weeks, so Monica and Geoffrey, with two nurses, went to stay with their grandmother, Fanny Butler.  A letter of 8^th June 1914 reveals that Monica had been ill but was much better so went to stay with her mother at Westgate.  Monica is also mentioned in a letter written by Juliet Sladden on 28^th June 1915; Juliet had been to visit her Aunt Fanny and Monica was there, too.

In 1939, on the outbreak of the Second World War, Monica was staying with her recently-widowed aunt, Winnie Capon, at her home, Charfield Cottage, Charvil Lane, Sonning.

In 1952, Monica married James L Sweeting in the Paddington district.

Monica died in 1967 in the Bath district.